Apparatus for manufacturing tempered glass



Nov. 26; 1946. w s

' APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TEMPERED GLASS Original Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 7776040! 6 We [/75 jav w md a Nov. 26, 1946.

T. G. WElHS APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TEMPERED GLASS Original Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Theodor fl el'h-s LILLILIL 1945- T. G. WEI HS APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TEMPERED GLASS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 7, 1940 w. QHWI JJA $4Hm 14.4... I

INVENTOR Q Theodor GJVe 1775 6%? E (lik E Q Q Q Nov. 26, 1946. T. G. WEIHS 2,411,701

' APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TEMPERED GLASS Original Fi led Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR TheodorGWei/zs .-;In accordance .with the present Patented Nov. 26, 1946 UNITED 'ISTAT ES PATENT ol=ncs APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING g, 'I EMPERED GLASS I :Theodor G. Weihs, now byjiuflicial change of name Theodore G. White, Pittsburgh, Pa., as- ,signor to American Window Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania i riginal application August 7, '1940,'Serial No. 7 I 351,757. Divided and this application September 17, 1941, SerialNo. 411,137 7 Claims. (Cl. 49%45) The present invention relatesto tempered or case hardened'glass and more particularly to an improved apparatus for frnanufacturing such glass. The present application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 351,757, filed August .7, 1940. a r V As is well known in the glass art, tempered or case hardened glass is notjordinary annealed glass -but is'glasswhich has been heated to a out fracturing very substantial-impacts.

. .Someofthemethods of tempering glass which have been used'heretofore have resulted in'products having greatmechanical strength and which when fractured break into the desirable small pieces I but considerable difficulty has been ener than'that obtained by the presently known processes and which, upon fragmentation, breaks into innumerable small pieces of suitable char-e acter. In addition, the glass manufactured in accordance with'my invention is relatively free of objectionable iridescent spots and it can be manufactured. quickly, efioiently and econom- ,ically.

v t In accordance with my invention the glass sheet to be temperedis heated to a temperature near the softening point of the glass and is then quickly cooledbyblowing a gaseous cooling medium against both faces thereof, the gaseous cooling medium'being blown against the faces of the glass sheets in a pluralityof streams, and in such manner that the intensity with which eachstream impinges upon a face ofthe glass sheet is alternately increased and decreased. In addition, as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter, in carrying out my invention, I preferably increase the intensity with which a plurality of the streams I impinge upon each face of the glass sheet and countered in such processes dueto the formation of iridescent; spots in the glass, Such spotsare objectionable as they can beiseen' by the naked .eye if the glass is viewedflt various angles. Such spots al soiare quite apparent when the sheets are examined; under polarized light. Such oh- I jectionable iridescent spots areparticularly ap.-,- parent in glass sheets which. have been manufacture d lay a tempering process involving the-blowin fair or some other suitable gaseousmedium directly against the glass sheet by; means of a plurality of spaced nozzles." They are not 'Vparticularlyprevalent, howevenwhere such glass is manufactured by an immersion process, that is, ,bya process in whichthe glass sheet isheated to a point in the vicinity. of the softening point a1'ld.: then immersed in: a suitable chilling, liquid.

However, glass made; by immersion processes known heretofore .has not beentparticularly satisfactory frornr the standpoint of thecharacter of the break obtained when, shattered. Nor: has such glass been particularly satisfactory from 'standpqint of mechanical strength; 7 v 'nvention, I provide an apparatus for manufacturing tempered'glasstwhich results'l'in ga'jproduct. havin -mechanicalzstrength at least .asgreat as or greatthe.

.apparatusshown in Figure 1, some of the parts at the same time decrease the intensity with which "the 'adiacent streams impingeupon the faces of the glass sheets and alternately increase .and decreasethe intensity of each of these-sets ofstreams periodically during the cooling of the sheet.

After'the sheet has been cooled inthis manner to a sufficient extent to permit handling thereof, the glass sheet is then removed from the supporting mechanism and is ready-for use or testing. a 7

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for-purposes of illustration only; apreferred'embodiment of my invention and a slightly modified form of apparatus." In the drawings,

Figure l is a sideelevational view of the apparatus which maygbeused in carrying out my invention; j J; V

Figure 2 .is a partial plan view of the cooling being broken awayiionclarityyw A 'Figure'3 is afront elevational view. of one of the cooling headers and the nozzles or pipes cooperating therewithy,

Figure4 is a sectional view through a portion of the driving mechanism for reciprocating the tubes throughwhich thegas is blown onto the glass sheet;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view showing a connection between one of. the tubes and the driving mechanismyand I Figure 6 is a viewsimilar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of apparatuswhich may be used for tempering curvedglass sheets.

generally by the reference character a and are supported on the vertically extending frame 5. The furnace 2 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot in the top wall 6 thereof and a longitudinally extending slot in the bottom wall I thereof. The slot in the top wall is normally covered by doors or closures 8 and 9 which are slidable toward and away from each other in order to close or open the slot. These doors may be operated by any suitable mechanism such as by the pivoted rods l5, 1! l and I2 which are rocked on their pivots by a rod l3 movable vertically by a pivotally mounted operating lever Hi. The bottom slot or opening of the furnace 2 is likewise normally closed by doors I5 and I6 which are moved to open or closed position through a series of pivotally mounted rods similar to those just described with respect to the upper doors 3 and 9. These rods may be connected'to the same operating handle M by means of a link I! so that the two sets of doors or closures maybe operated simultaneously.

The bottom furnace or heating chamber 3 is likewise provided with a longitudinally extending slot in the top wall l8 thereof and a bottom longitudinally extending slot in the bottom wall Iii. The slot in the upper wall I8 is normally closed by doors and 21 and the slot in the bottom wall is is normally closed by doors 22 and 25. By means of appropriate linkage such as that previously described in connection with the first heating chamber 2, these doors may be opened or closed simultaneously by means of a pivotally mounted operating handle 24.

The glass sheet to be tempered is suitably supported for movement through-said heating chambers and into position between the headers of the cooling mechanism described hereinafter. The glass sheet S is moved vertically through the heating chambers and into appropriate position between the two headers of the cooling apparatu by metallic straps 32. The straps 32 are of appropriate length to permit the lowering of the glass through the two heating furnaces and into position between the cooling headers. These strap 32 extend around rotatable wheels 36 suitably mounted in bearings 31 carried by the frame 5 at the top thereof. The wheels35 are rotated by a crank in the embodiment shown in'the drawings, but it will-be apparent thatjappropriate mechanism a can be provided for automatically raising andlowering theglass. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the wheels 36 can be stopped at any suitable point. by means of pins which may be placed in holes 39 positioned around the periphery of each wheel.

In operation, the glass sheet is first lowered into the upper furnace. This furnacev is provided with suitable electrical heating elements and. the glass sheet is permitted to remain therein for a. suflicient period of time to raise the temperature thereof to approximately 900. This, under normal conditions, requires a period of approximately 2 minutes where a glass sheet of e -inch thickness is employed. Thereafter the doors of the furnaces are opened and the glass sheet S is lowered into the heating furnace 3.

"The glass sheet is permitted to remain in this furnace for substantially the-same length of time as it was in the first furnace and the temperature thereof is raised to approximately the softening point of the glass. Where glass sheets of the compositions customarily used in the trade are employed, I have found that a sheet temperature of approximately 1100 to 1200 is entirely satisfactory. Thereafter the glass sheet is removed from the furnace 3 and lowered to a position between the headers of the cooling apparatus indifiguration but may be of any suitable shape depending upc-n the configuration of the glass sheets to be cooled thereby. The rear endof the header 55 is connected to the blower 52 for blowin cool air through the header and against the glass sheet S. The front end of the header 55, that is; the end closest the glass sheet, is provided with a closure plate 53 having a plurality of holes 54 therein for receiving and partially supporting one end of the tubes ornozzles 55. This plate 53 is welded'or otherwise suitably secured to the front end of the header 50. Adjacent each of the four corners of the header a rotatable shaft 55 is mounted in suitable bearings 51 and 58 carried by the frame 59. These shafts are also partially supported by bearings 59a carried by the plate 53. The front end of each shaft-56 extends through the bearing 58 and has keyed thereto a sprocket til having teeth thereon for cooperating with a'chain 6 I for driving the shafts. The chain 6| extends'around all four sprockets and'also over a sprocket 62- carried by the shaft 63 of a driving motor 64 which is mounted on a bracket 65' carried by the frame 59. The motor and chain are used for driving theshafts 56 which in turn, through the mechanism'about to be describedrecip'rocate the tubes 55 alternately toward and away from the glass sheet to be cooled. I

Each shaft 56 i provided with two threaded sections, the one section '66 being threaded in one direction and the section 61 -beingthreaded in the reverse direction. I The threaded sectionsfifi of the shafts 55 are utilized for reciprocating one group of the tubes or nozzles 55 and the threaded section 6'! is utilized for reciprocatinganother group of the nozzles toward and away from the glass sheet An internally threaded nut or block 68 is threaded on the section 61 of each shaft '56. A transversely extending plate 15 is-secured to the block or nut 68 bymean S of anut 10 which is threaded on a reducedend section ll of the nut 68. The plate 15 is provided with an opening 12 which is sufficie'ntly large to permit the plate to be placed in position over the reduced and threaded end section H 0f nut 68. The plate l5 is a'lso provided with a plurality of holes for receiving the nozzles or tubes 55. These nozzles or tubes extend through the openings in the plate 15 andsome of: them are appropriately securedto the plate 15 sothat as the plateis moved rearwardly and forwardly by the nuts 68and the shafts 55 these tubes will be alternately moved toward and awayfrom the glass sheet. Alternate "tubes-in each horizontal row are secured to the Y plate 15 by collars 'llpositione'dQ on eitherside thereof. jThesec collars-l3 are secured. in-appropria'te position on the tubes'55 against the plate 15 bysetscrews 14. A 'plate 69 similar to the plate 's'l5 isprovided for cooperation with the tubes which are not connected to the .plate .15. Nuts. 16 which areinternallythreaded for coop.-. station with the .threaded sections '66: ;of. the shafts 56' are provided for moving the plate .69. Thetzplate 69,=is.se,cur'ed tothesenuts 1.6 inthe samegmannerasthe .plate 15 is secured to thenuts, 68.. The plate 69:has a plurality of, holes extending therethrough. for receiving the. nozzles or tubes 55. The tubes 55 which are not secured to, theplate' 15 are secured to and movable .with

the plate; 69 by means of, collars 1? which, are see;

cured to the tubesinthe samemanneras the collarsl3are securedto thetubes. 1. jjIij will be, apparent fromthe above, description of thetubes and the driving mechanism that whenthe shafts 56 are rotated in one direction by themotorfl thenuts 16,,the plate 5,9,- and the tubes rigidly connected thereto will be moved-in one directionandthe nuts 68, the plate 15, and the 11111065 55 rigidly connected thereto .will be moved in the reverse direction-dueto. the fact thatthe nuts 68 and 16 are on oppositely, thread-. ed sections of the Shafts 56. It will alsonbe apparent that when the motor 64 is reversed the direction of rotation of the shafts 56 is reversed and the plates 69 and715 and the tubes connected thereto are moved in the opposite directions.

H In order to control the extent of themovement of the tubes in any particular direction limit switches 80 and 8! arexappropriately positioned 9X 7. ilhfiframe 59; The limit switch 80 .is provided with an arm 82 which is arranged to bemoved by the, plate 15 when it has been moved to its rear position. The limit switch .8I-.i s :provided with a similar arm 83 which cooperates with the plate 69 when it is moved .to its rearposition. In Figure 2 t he plate .69and the tubescooperating therewith are'shown in advanced position and the plate 15 and the tubes connected thereto are shown in retractedposition. g I Appropriate electrical mechanism is provided for reversing the motor 64 at the desired time. The particular electrical mechanism employed for reversing the motor 64 forms no part of the present invention andconsequently is not specifically shown herein and will not be described. It will suffice to state that when the plate 15 comes in contact-with th ..arm 82:of the;limit switch 80 the supply of current tothe motor, is iiliterruptedand the tubes will remain inthe position shownin Figure 2 for ashort period of time, whereuponthe motor 64 is resenergized .for rotation in the reverse direction. The plate 15 then moved forwardly and the plate 69 .rearyvardly. When the plate 69 comes in contact with thearm 83 of the limit'switch Bl thegcurrent supply to the motor Miscinterruptedandmovement of thetubes ceases until the;motorj64 is .againenergized for rotation in the reversedirec- .tion. ,This reversal of thomotor andsthetime interval between its rotation in onedirection and its rotation in the otherdirectionycan be appropriately 7 controlled and regulated. by relays; and other. electrical mechanism well known in the art. -As. stated above, the header and the cooperating mechanism are similar. to the header; 56

afi l it oo ra ing, me ha ismsine tub -85 which cooperate with the header 5| are reciprocated forwardly and rearwardlyin the same man- :ner' asses tubesi55. These tubes 85 howeverare lot positioned fdir'ectly jopposite the tube-s 55. -fl;hey a f.- :.PQS .'QiQned;0 that the ;air discharged .center.

above is primarily for ,However, it can be used for tempering curved'sheets of glass of any. desired curvature by modifying it slightly. In

Figure 6 I have illustrated the structure when modifiedin such a way as torender it suitable for tempering curved glass sheets. As shown in Figure 6, the tubes or nozzles are arranged sothat theends thereof adjacent the glass sheet S are in curved planes, parallel vto the curved plane of the sheet S; In order to arrange the tubes or nozzles 85 in this manner it is merely necessary to slide them forwardly or rearwardly through the collars and the holes in the closure plate for the forward end of the header- In order to do this it is merely necessary to loosen the set screws which fasten the collars to the tubes. When arranged in this manner each nozzle or tube in each group or set on each side of the glass sheet is positioned exactly the same distance away from the curved glass sheetbee ing tempered as each other tube in the same set or group Inthis embodiment of the invention, the tubes are reciprocated in the same manner as the tubes of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and consequently the apparatus employed .for effecting the reciprocation of the tubes in this embodiment will not be specifically described herein. 1

I In the operation of the structure disclosed in the drawings the glass sheet to be tempered is first. heated to approximately 900 F. in the initial heating furnace. It is then moved to the second heating furnace where it is heated to a temperature near the softening point. Each of these heating operations requires approximately 2% minutes where glass sheets approximately inch in thickness are used. It will be apparent thatiwhere glass of other thicknesses is used, the heating time may be increased or decreased. For example, where glass of /ii thickness is used I have found that the heating time is preferably about 2 minutes and 40 seconds. After the heating of the'glass sheet has been completed itis positioned between the two headersand the cool ing operation carriedoutby means of the apparatus described above. I r

I.have found that any suitable number of tubes or nozzles may be utilized on each side of the glass sheet. In the embodiment shown inthe drawings there are 285 tubes on each side of the glasssheet and'these tubes arefi; inch in diameter and spaced apart 11- from-center to I have found that this spacing of the nozzles 'givesbest results.- v I In the embodiment shown in the drawings; the tubes adjacent each faceof the glass sheet are divided into two sets. One'set of tubes on each 'sideis retracted from the advanced position to the rear position asthe'other set-is being advanced from the rear position to the advanced position. It will be apparent however, that in--v ,der some circumstances it may be desirable to dividethe. tubes into more than two sets; I find,

however, that best results can be, obtained where thetubes are arranged inthe manner-shown-in the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and where aIte-rnatetubes in each horizontal and Ver tieal line are reciprocated together. By this er rangement when any particular tube is in ad-' vanced position the tubes adjacent thereto are in retracted position. This arrangement is advantageous as it assists in the escape of the gas from the space adjacent the glass sheet and 1121- less provision is made for getting rid of the gases in some manner or other, difliculty is encountered in obtaining proper cooling and proper breaking characteristics in the finished product.

The position of the tubes with respect to the glass sheet is of considerable importance. I find that best results can be obtained when. the tubes are so positioned that in their advanced position the ends thereof will be approximately 1 from the glass sheet. I'he stroke of each tube also is important. I find that a stroke of approximately 1% gives best results in apparatus such as that described above.

The air pressure employed is also of considerable importance. In the apparatus described above, I find that an air pressure of approximately 6.6" of Water measured at the outlet end of each tube gives best results.

In the operation of this apparatus I have found that an increase in the air pressure reduces iridescence. This is directly contrary to the results achieved where stationary nozzles are employed. Where stationary nozzles are employed and the air pressure is increased, iridescence is materially increased. I believe that this unusual phenomena is caused by the fact that when the air pressure is reduced the streams of gas com ing from the-tubes which are in retracted position have very little effect upon the glass and upon the air coming from the advanced tubes andthat consequently there is not a proper distribution of the air throughout the area of the glass sheet.

Another unusual phenomena which I have experienced with the apparatus and method which I provide is that when the nozzles or tubes are arranged so as to increase the distance between the glass sheet and the nozzles when in advanced positioniridescence is increased. This is directly contrary to what happens wherestationary nozzles areused. Where stationary nozzles are sin-'- ployed a decrease in the distance between the lass and the nozzles increases iridescence' and an increase in the distance reduces it.

I have found that the rate of reciprocation of the various nozzles can be varied over a wide range. In-the apparatus disclosed in the drawings and described above, I prefer to reciprocate the nozzles approximately 20 to 30timesperminute although this rate of reciprocation can be very greatly increased or decreased tosuit the operating conditions encountered.

While I preferably employ a gas such as air in the carrying out of my invention, it will be obviousthat any other fluid capable-of being forced through the tubes under pressure may be used. For example, other gases or vaporized liquidsmay beemployed.

While I have shown and described a-preferred embodiment'of my invention I do not intend to be limited-thereto as my invention .may be-otherwise embodied within the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of tempered glass comprising a' plurality of open ended tubes, supporting means" for supporting: the tubes with' one end ofeach adiacent'the" glass 8. sheet to be tempered, means including a header communicating with one end of each of said tubes for forcing a cooling fluid through said tubes and against one face of the glass sheet, and actuating means including automatically reversible means connected with said tubes for alternately movingthe tubes toward and away from the glass sheet repeatedly during the tempering operation, whereby the intensity with which the cooling fluid from: each of said tubes impinges upon the glass sheet is automatically increased and decreased.

2. Apparatus" for use in the manufacture of tempered glass comprising a plurality or open ended tubes; supporting means for supporting the tubes; with one end of each adjacent the glass sheet to be tempered, means including a header communicating with the other end; of each of said tubes for forcing a cooling fluid through the tubes and: against one face of the glass: sheet; andactuating means including a reversible electric motor andat least one limit switch for automaticall'y' moving the tubes toward and away from the glass sheet repeatedly during the tempering operation, whereby the intensity with which the cooling fiui'd' from each ofsaid tubes impinges upon the glass sheet is automatically increased and decreased.

3. Apparatus for use in' the manufacture of tempered: glass" comprising a plurality of open ended tubes,- supporting means for said tubes with one end of eachadjacent a face of a-glass sheet tube-tempered; means communicating-with the other end of each of said tubes for blowing a cooling: fluid through the tubes and against the adjacent face or the glass sheet, andactuating means including automatically I reversible means connected with said tubes for moving some of the" tubes adjacent each face of the glass sheet toward the sheet whoa at thesame time, moving the remainder of the tubes adjacent each face ofthe'sheet away from the sheet.

4'. Apparatus for use inthe manufacture of tempered glass comprising a plurality of open ended tubes adjacenteachraceof the glass sheet to be tempered,- supporting means for said" tubes, means communicating with said tubes-for blowing a cooling fluid' througheach of-said-tubes and against a:- fade of theg'lass sheet; means connected with'each of said tubesrcr moving apart of the tu-besad'jacent each face of the glasssheet toward the sh'eet while, at the" same time, moving the remainingtub'es adjacent each face of the glass sheet away from thesheet, and means ope'ratively connected with said last mentioned meansfor automatically reversing the direction of movement of said tube moving} means.

5. Apparatus for use iii the manufacture of tempered" glass con'ii'i'rising a pair ofs'p-acedhead ers'adapted to be" positioned on opposite sides of the glass sheet to be tempered, each header having" its discharge end adjacent one face of the glass sheet; a plurality ofopen ended tubes communicating with each header and extending forwardly thereof toward a face of the glass sheet, means communicating with-each header'for supplying-gas thereto under pressure,- and actuating means; in'cllidi lig apiuralityor l'iniit" Switches, operatively connected with each of said tubes for repeatedly reciprocating the tubes towardand awayfrom-the glass 'during the tempering operation;

6 Apparatus" for" use" in the manufacture of tempered glass comprisinga pair'of spaced head'- ers adapted to be positioned on opposite sidesof the glass-sheet to be tempered ,a plurality ofopen ended tubes, means for supporting each of said tubes with one end in communication with a header and the other end adjacent the glass sheet, means for supplying gas under pressure to each of said headers, and automatically reversible means connected with each of said tubes for moving some of the tubes adjacent each face of the glass sheet toward the sheet While, at the same time, moving the remaining tubes adjacent each face away from the sheet.

7. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of tempered glass comprising a pair of spaced headers adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the glass sheet to be tempered, a set of open endedtubes cooperating with each header, a second set of tubes cooperating with each header alternately arranged with respect to the tubes in the first mentioned sets, means for supporting said tubes with one end in communication with a header and the other end adjacent the glass sheet to be tempered, means connected with the first mentioned set of tubes on each side of the glass sheet for reciprocating them toward and away from the sheet, means connected with said second mentioned set of tubes on each side of the glass sheet for reciprocating them toward and away from the glass sheet, and means connected with each of said headers for supplying air under pressure thereto, said reciprocating means and said tubes being arranged so that one set on each side of the glass sheet is moved toward the sheet while the tubes in the other set on each side are moved in the reverse direction.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing tempered glass comprising a header, a plurality of open ended tubes cooperating with said header, means for supporting each of said tubes with one end in communication with the header and the other end extending forwardly therefrom, and means connected with each of said tubes for reciprocating it axially relative to said header, said means including limit switches for automatically reversing the movement of each of said tubes.

9. Apparatus for manufacturing tempered glass comprising a header, a plurality of open ended tubes cooperating with said header, means for supporting each of said tubes with one end glass comprising a header, a plurality of tubes cooperating with said header, means for supporting each of said tubes with one end thereof communicating with the header and the other extending forwardly therefrom, means for forcing gas under pressure through said header and through said tubes, a cross plate connected to a portion only of said tubes, a second cross plate connected to the remainder of said tubes, and means for moving the cross plates and the tubes secured thereto in opposite directions and for automatically reversing themovement thereof.

THEODOR G, WEIHS. 

